All Lives Matter

Recently I had a friend ask me if I blogged and I said – no. Blogging doesn’t really feel like my thing as I am not sure anyone wants to read what I have to say and if they do, I am worried they might think differently about me once they know more about me. But I find myself in that space of once again not really having anything to do but lots to say. I have a list of things I want to write about – taking ordination exams, political correctness, and being pro-life just to name a few. Today I decided to talk about the last in the list – being pro-life. This re-entry into the blog spear was prompted by the headline to an article I saw on Salon. (I don't know how to insert a link so bear with me) The headline says: “All lives matter” has always been a lie: The brutality of Hiroshima and Nagasaki echoes in Ferguson and Iraq today.’ I haven’t read the actual article and it is not the specifics of the article I want to reflect on….I want to reflect on something that I have noticed in the pro-life movement. It seems the pro-life movement finds abortion to be appalling because they value the sanctity of life – all lives matter. The theory goes that once egg and sperm meet, life is created and we need to honor and treasure that life because that life is precious. Abortion destroys life and all lives matter. But what I have noticed is that life is so precious because it is innocent. The fetus hasn’t done anything wrong – yet.....but once it does - Katy bar the door…..because we have guns and prisons just waiting for that precious life. It seems the most radical pro-lifers are also the most radical gun lovers AND the most vocal about cutting government spending that helps the poor. That fetus is so loved because it is innocent…but once it becomes a full-fledged person and messes up – it is no longer deserving of love and support. I wonder – does this line of thinking exist because this is a reflection of how people think God interacts with us? When one’s theology is based on a God that only offers salvation to those who have acted and behaved a certain way – then love becomes conditional on the actions of the person. But the theology of Grace tells us something different about God. A God of grace loves us no matter what….. No matter what we say or do…. No matter what we think or believe… No matter what. If God doesn’t love us this way – then it wouldn’t be grace because after all, the definition of Grace is undeserving love. Undeserving love…. Love no matter what…. The way to overcome belief in a God that only offers love to the deserving is by practicing Grace. So let’s do that. Let’s begin with noticing. Where do you see these two realities playing out in your life? Where do you notice that your response is focused around “deserving”? Where do you notice Grace? "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." – Romans 8:38-39 p.s. None of my formatting showed up which is a big disappointment. Is this because I am using blogger.com? Any suggestions for a good free blogging website?